GDC-Augusta State Medical Prison

ASMP, constructed in 1982 and opened in 1983, serves as a critical institution in Georgia's corrections system. Dedicated to housing adult male felons, the facility operates at close security level (maximum) to ensure public safety while providing essential services. With a capacity of 1326, Augusta State Medical Prison stands as a pivotal component of Georgia's corrections infrastructure. It primarily caters to male and female offenders in need of acute medical and Level IV mental health services, with a specialization in transient care. Notably, it also functions as a release site for sex offenders and hosts the Augusta Transitional Center.

The housing layout of Augusta State Medical Prison is meticulously organized to meet the diverse needs of its population. Divided into four living units, each unit is further segmented into separate entities, equipped with support buildings containing multi-purpose rooms and counseling offices. The facility comprises an open dormitory with 519 beds, including 192 designated for assisted living. Additionally, it features seven nursing units, each equipped with a security control room, single patient rooms, a Crisis Stabilization Unit, and a central dining hall. The Mental Health Support building utilizes a shared dining area, while the Fast Track building accommodates 256 beds with double bunk arrangements. Moreover, Augusta State Medical Prison houses specialized units such as a Special Management Unit, Diagnostic Unit, C.E.R.T. team, and Tactical Squad, underscoring its comprehensive approach to inmate management.

In terms of work details, Augusta State Medical Prison offers various opportunities for inmate employment, including roles with the Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Department of Transportation Weigh Station, in-house maintenance and custodial details, outside warehouse tasks, and outdoor maintenance duties. These work opportunities not only contribute to the operational functioning of the facility but also serve as valuable vocational training for inmates.

The prison's robust program offerings aim to address the educational, psychological, and rehabilitative needs of its population. Academic programs such as GED, ABE, and literacy/remedial courses are complemented by counseling sessions focusing on motivation for change, cognitive restructuring, moral reconation therapy, and relapse prevention. Furthermore, inmates have access to recreational activities, religious services, mental health support, and vocational training programs in areas like food preparation, barbering, and custodial maintenance.

With a dedicated workforce comprising 500 Augusta University employees, faculty, staff, and contractors, Augusta State Medical Prison operates a 95-bed acute care hospital known as the Augusta State Medical Prison Hospital (ASMP). This hospital provides a wide range of medical services, including surgical procedures, multi-specialty clinics, mental health treatment units, dialysis, dental care, hospice services, and inpatient care. Notably, it houses specialized units for dementia, traumatic brain injury, severe personality disorders, and seriously mentally ill offenders.

In addition to medical care, Augusta State Medical Prison offers primary and chronic care services through its satellite clinics, palliative care, chronic care clinic, statewide center for dialysis, rule-out TB rooms, regional pharmacy, telemedicine hub, preventive and primary care clinics, oral surgery, general dentistry, clinical dietitian services, and telepsychiatry services. The facility also provides non-emergent same-day surgical services, covering orthopedics, maxillofacial surgery, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, vascular surgery, ENT procedures, urology, and ophthalmology, ensuring comprehensive healthcare for its inmate population.